With no aides at his side -- a rarity for the mayor -- Adams stood in front of television cameras for nearly 10 minutes, saying repeatedly that he was taking a "day by day" approach to the protest and its impact on nearby businesses.

Asked how much it would cost to repair whatever damage there may be at Chapman Square, Adams did not respond directly.

"I'm not going into the theoretical," he said at one point.

Eventually, Adams' chief of staff Warren Jimenez intervened, calling an end to the impromptu press conference.